MCBASTARD'S MAUSOLEUM: KRIMINAL (1966) Cult Epics 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

KRIMINAL (1966)

Label: Cult Epics

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating:

Duration: 99 Minutes 26 Seconds

Audio: Englishor Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (2.35:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1)

Director: Umberto Lenzi

Cast: Glenn Saxson, Helga Liné, Andreas Bosic, Esmeralda Ruspoli, Mary Arden, Ivano Staccioli

Kriminal (1966) is based the Italian fumetti neri comic books created by Magnus and Max Bunker, the comics following the exploits of Kriminal, a master thief who wears a signature yellow and black skeleton body suit. This pulpy adaptation is helmed by Italian journeymen Umberto Lenzi (So Sweet... So Perverse) who dabbled in many genres, notably Italian crime thrillers, giallo, and cannibal films, but who also dipped his toe into the realm of comic book adaptations decades before genre was beaten into submission by Marvel and DC. In it we have the titular Kriminal, played by Glenn Saxson (Django Shoots First), a master criminal who it is established is always one step ahead of the law, except for when he's nabbed by the cops at the start of the film after making off with the British crown jewels, and while he's been caught, the jewels have still not been recovered. Kriminal is about to be hanged for his crimes when he commits and daring escape at the last second. Inspector Milton (Andreas Bosic, Manhattan Baby) is the guy who caught him, and we find out he's also the guy who allowed him escape, so that the master thief will lead him back tot he crown jewels. Kriminal is not so easily tracked though, and he's manages to elude the cops, but he does send a package containing the crown jewels right tot heir office, with a note explaining that the jewels were a bit hard to offload, so why not return them.

Now the masked anti-hero turns his attention towards a new caper, obtaining a cache of diamonds that are at the center of an insurance scan being perpetrated by corrupt jeweler Lady Gold (Esmeralda Ruspoli, Footprints on the Moon). To get the inside track Kriminal has to seduce his ex-wife Margie Swan (Maria Luisa Rispoli, Electra One), and infiltrate the inner circle of casino owner/jewel courier played by the always fine Helga Liné (Horroro Express), in a dual-role as as Inge and Trud. All the while he has to evade the encroaching Inspector Milton who never far behind. We also get a small but pivotal appearance from Mary Arden (Blood and Black Lace) towards at the end.

I thought Saxson as Kriminal was a bit bland and stiff, but there's no denying that he is handsome sonofabitch and cuts a fine looking figure, a rogue who treats women poorly, is not adverse to innocent casualties, with the eternal tan and steely eyes of Franco Nero, but less than half the charisma. The live-action skeletal bodysuit has a fun pulpy appeal to as the master thief stalks estates and scales building with ease, but it does look a bit silly. He's portrayed as a bit of mean-spirited playboy, seducing older women and even boiling one alive in her own sauna, but to be fair she did pull a gun on him first.

It's interesting to note how restrained the violence is as well, director Umberto Lenzi was stranger to over-the-top violence, and if you've seen Nightmare City, Cannibal Ferox, or Almost Human you will no what I speak of. Here he purposefully tones it down to a kiddie-friendly action-thriller, which feels wrong to me, this was fun enough, but it needed more of an edge to it.

The film has a 007 type feel with set-pieces in scenic London, Madrid and Istanbul, the cinematography by Angelo Lotti (Seven Blood-Stained Orchids) is not particularly stylish, but his compositions are handsomely lensed. We also get a jazzy and occasionally swanky sounding score by Robert Fuller aka Romano Mussolini (Alibi Perfetto), a jazz pianist, who was the youngest son of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

If you're fan of stuff like Black Tight Killers (1966), Danger: Daibolik (1968) or The Girl from Rio (1969) this spy-thriller adjacent flick is particularly worth checking it. Cult Epics have put together a gorgeous 4K release with some stellar extras, this comes highly recommended.

Audio/Video: Kriminal (1966) makes it's worldwide 4K UHD debut from Cult Epics in 2160p UHD framed in 2.35:1 widescreen. This 4K master is sourced from new 4K transfer and restoration from the original negative, with HDR10 color-grade. The image looks terrific, grain is well-managed, texture and details are appreciable throughout, the '60's fashions and interior decor look terrific, and the HDR10infused colors are warm and vibrant. The primaries, especially greens and reds, have a nice pop to them, and black levels are rock solid with excellent contrast. The accompanying Blu-ray offers the same gorgeous restoration in 1080p without HDR10, and while the absence of HDR color-grade was evident, it's still a wonderful looking HD presentation.

Audio comes by way of English or Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. the tracks are clean and well-balanced, both were dubbed in post-production, which was the standard procedure for Italian films of this era. Either version will have some slight sync issues in respect to the dubbing, but both sounded excellent, and I went with the English dub for most of my viewings. The dialogue is distinct and nicely prioritized, and the Mussolini score really shines.

Special features on the UHD disc includes a new Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth, and the 4-min Original Theatrical Trailer. The commentary is another on-point team-up between Ercolani and Howarth, who discuss Italian cinema and Lenzi's career in this era, pointing out some Giallo-esque elements, and of course the locations and talent in front and behind the camera.

The accompanying Blu-ray extras include the same commentary and trailer, plus a host of additional extras. We get the 88-min Armed to the Teeth: The Cinema of Umberto Lenzi, a feature-length documentary co-produced by Eugenio Ercolani examining the director's career featuring Lenzi himself, as well as producers Ugo Tucci (Free Hand for a Tough Cop) and Ovidio G. Ossontis (The Man from Deep River), actress Martine Brochard (Eyeball), Forrado Solari (The Tough Ones), Nino Celeste (Violent Naples), composer Franco Micalizzi (The Cynic, The Rat and the Fist), assistant director Alessandra Lenzi (The House of Witchcraft), editor Eugenio Alabiso,.

Additional Blu-ray supplements include 38-min Camera Nostalgia - An interview with actor Glenn Saxson; then into the 25-min The Sound of Krime - An Interview with music historian Pierpaolo De Sanctis of Four Flies Records. We also get the option to listen tot he Isolated Score with uncompressed LPCM audio, the 3-min Original Italian Credits; the 4-min Original Theatrical Trailer; 3-min Promotional Gallery; and a selection of movie trailers for other Cult Epics releases.

The 2-disc UHD/Blu-ray arrives in a black keepcase with a Reversible Wrap featuring the original Italian poster artwork, and the discs inside feature excerpts from both of the key artworks. The first-pressing also incudes a Slipcover featuring one of those key artworks, which looks terrific.